Munster U20s Final Challenge Game

The Munster U20s open their Interprovincial campaign this day week in the Mardyke, Cork. They have played two challenge games to this point and play their final pre-season game this evening against a UCC select side at the Cork Institute of Technology in Bishopstown, ko 7pm.

Match notes by Alan Miller

Last Friday saw the U20s take on a Munster Rugby Academy select XV that were out for revenge after losing to the U20s the previous season.

The academy had the best of starts when after two minutes Ed Kelly rounded off an excellent move to score in the corner with Sean Scanlon converting.

The 20s got back into the game and kept in touch with two penalties kicked by Gareth Quinn-McDonagh.

But the academy rounded off the first half with another try, this time from number 8 Kieran Essex which was again converted by Scanlon, giving a halftime score line of 14-6.

The second half opened with a try from winger Craig O’Hanlon before both sides rang in the changes, with the academy adapting the best and making the most of the fresh legs by scoring three unconverted tries in quick succession.

The U20s battled on and were rewarded for their effort with their only try of the game on the stroke of full time.

Result: Munster U20s 11 – Munster Rugby Academy 34

Tonight they will look to improve on their performance in the final challenge game before taking on Ulster in the Mardyke in Cork on Friday September 3rd at 7pm.

Munster Academy Select: Luke O'Dea (Shannon), Craig O'Hanlon (Young Munster), Joe Keane (UL Bohs), Troy Smith (Midleton), Olan Dennehy (UCC), Sean Scanlon (Cork Con), Cathal Sheridan (UL Bohs), Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohs), Sean Henry (UL Bohs), Pa O'Regan (UL Bohs), Ed Kelly (UL Bohs), Colm Considine (Ennis), Dave O'Callaghan (Dolphin), Conal Murphy (UCC), Kieran Essex (UL Bohs). Replacements: Ger Burke (Old Crescent), Duncan Casey (Shannon), Alan Cotter (Young Munster), Stephen Foster (Bruff), Paul Rowley (Shannon), Richie Mullane (Shannon), Jamie McGarry.

Munster U20s squad for 2010/11: John Randles (Crescent College Comprehensive), Tom Doyle (Rockwell), Paul Mullen (Kings Hospital), Jake Considine (Young Munster), Ian Mullarkey (Dolphin), Kieran Stokes (Christians), Kevin O’Byrne (UCC), Niall Scannell (PBC), Brian Vaughan (PBC), David O’Mahony (PBC), Tom Goggin (St Munchin’s College), Rob O’Herlihy (PBC), Yasin Browne (Christians), Shane Buckley (Rockwell), Simon Hanbidge (Christians), Jack Duffy (PBC), Conal Murphy (UCC), Luke Cahill (Rockwell) Cathal O’Flaherty (PBC), Henry Travers (Bandon Grammer School), Ronan Barry (PBC), Eoin O’Shaughnessy (PBC), Sean Upton (Young Munster), Gareth Quinn McDonagh (Shannon), Johnny Holland (UCC), JJ Hanarahan (Rockwell), Sean Og Murphy (PBC), Lucas Kunz (St Munchin’s College), Daniel Horgan (PBC), Ben Sargent (Shannon), Cian Bohane (Dolphin),Jamie McGarry (Ard Scoil Ris), Dara O’Doherty (Crescent College Comprehensive), Corey Hircock (Garryowen), Olan Dennehy (UCC), Cathal Quinn (CBC), Jack Costigan (PBC), Eoin O’Donnell (Cork Con), Derry O’Connor (Garryowen), Jack Murray (St Munchin’s College.

Munster U20s Interprovincial Fixtures:
Munster v Ulster, Friday September 3rd, Mardyke, ko 7pm
Munster v Connacht, Friday September 10th, Mardyke, ko 7pm
Leinster v Munster, Friday September 17th, Donnybrook, ko 7pm